Rita Chen Email & Phone Number

Brookline, Ma, Us

Brookline, Ma, Us

Boston, Ma, Us

• Develop and optimize biosensor technology, including strain engineering, assaying, and automation independently with guidance from the Principal Scientist and Senior Scientist• Assist in seeding new projects in areas such as biomaterials, biomanufacturing, bioremediation, and novel foods• Provide technical support to ongoing projects, ensuring high standards of research and innovation• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones and objectives• Maintain accurate records of experiments and data analysis• Contribute to the preparation of research reports, presentations, and publications with limited supervision from the project team• Demonstrate a commitment to the Wyss Institute’s community values of courage, collaboration, innovation, impact, diversity, and respect through actions, interactions, and communications with others.

Boston, Ma, Us

• Developed various project-based automation platforms and processes, including high-throughput workflows for protein construction, culturing, purification, and validation, automated iPSC-cardiomyocytes tissue culturing and differentiation, and a high-throughput platform for analysis of adaptive immune responses • Supported the transition and integration of Boston University COVID-19 Clinical Testing Lab into the DAMP Lab, including inventory management, training new staff on over 40 protocols, and assisting with numerous administrative tasks • Created course project materials for Computational Synthetic Biology for Engineers (EC/BE552), guiding students in applying computational design methods to experimentally created systems• Facilitated the organization of the 2nd International Workshop on Biomanufacturing Automation (IWBMA, 2023) and participated in the SLAS 2024 International Conference and Exhibition and career development workshops• Assisted in the developing clinical detection assays for infectious diseases including Monkeypox DNA virus and Influenza viruses, and performed other tasks according to established operational procedures

Boston, Ma, Us

• Formulated and validated computational scripts for the full automation of colony picking and magnetic beads-based DNA purification protocols using liquid handling robots to integrate the existing computational tools and the laboratory information management system (LIMS)• Participated in the development of the services, particularly for the construction of new services related to RNA-sequencing library preparation and analysis, qPCR assay, and mammalian cell line culture• Supported any grant or related materials for external funding that is prepared on behalf of the DAMP Lab, as needed• Provided ad-hoc assistance and co-mentorship regarding experimental-related assignments for undergraduate students• Managed all service costs provided by the DAMP Lab as a Core Facility at Boston University

Boston, Ma, Us

• Developed and tested computational scripts for the automation and integration of complex molecular protocols, previously performed at the bench, using liquid handling robots in multiple research projects, and presented part of work in the 12th International Workshop on Bio-Design Automation (IWBDA 2020)• Designed and constructed genetic circuits with complex functions using multiple DNA assembly methods, Modular Cloning (Golden Gate), Gibson assembly, and Endonuclease Restriction Digestion & Ligation, to meet the demand of incoming DNA Core Facility Services• Produced DAMP lab services’ quotes, promotional materials, and effective operation in the lab. Articulated and established the content and layout of the current lab webpage • Maintained the lab equipment, chemical inventory update, and monitored and ordered lab supplies • Supported the microfluidic team with establishing a DAMP Lab microfabrication service

Boston, Ma, Us

• Designed and troubleshooted Python protocols that automated DNA molecular cloning method utilizing the OT-2 liquid handling robot developed by Opentrons• Collected and extracted experimental data from MySQL database through the application of Python protocols• Applied statistical analysis on the data sets and incorporated the visual interpretation onto an HTML-based website• Contributed to the design and construction of traditional and Mutagenesis PCR primers and genetic circuit part library• Verified the design construction, sequencing results, and investigated poor results of the sequential logic genetic circuit• Performed preliminary data collection for the standardization and automation of 4-part Gibson DNA Assembly Protocol

- Prepared instruments, chemical solutions, and laboratories for Biochemistry and Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Teaching Laboratories- Maintained inventory controls in the stockroom and monitored the use of all equipment and supplies - Followed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and generated and maintained accurate, detailed laboratory records

- Provide conference guests with a comforting and friendly environment - Assist conference guests with their needs on the daily bases- Leading a group of thirty students to organize and help setting up events

- Advised the students on their projects and provided the safety guidelines for utilizing the machinery- Organized tools, took part orders, tracked down the orders, and stored the received items

Master Of Arts - Ma, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Major: Biomedical Engineering, Minor: Computer Engineering